As soon as the door latched behind him, Sasuke took off from his childhood home, fists clenched. He made his way down towards the lake by his house. He heavily sat on the crickety porch and stared sullenly down into the water below. He could see the sun slowly peaking in the distance, his reflection rippling. Once again that reflection turned into Itachi who stared coolly at him. Sasuke scowled and looked away. When he looked back it was only him again but another standing behind him.

"Dobe." Sasuke greeted dryly.

"Teme." Came the soft reply. Sasuke did not move as Naruto sat beside him, face more serene than Sasuke had ever seen it.

"Why are you here Naruto?" Sasuke asked and Naruto offered him a slight grin.

"Sick of me already Sasuke? I've barely even started yet." He quipped and nudged Sasuke's shoulder with his own. Sasuke sighed and lifted his face from staring into the water to meet those large blue eyes.

"You came to make sure I didn't kill Itachi."

"Or yourself," Naruto shrugged. "There's no telling with you." He looked towards the sky and Sasuke noted that the sun glinted amazingly through the blonde's hair, giving it an unearthly glow. Figures Naruto would absorb sunshine. They sat in silence for several minutes, watching the sunrise. They day was warm and Sasuke closed his eyes as the sun lifted to his face. "I missed you, Teme." Naruto suddenly murmured.

Sasuke blinked, surprised by the blunt confession and regarded the other warily.

"Why?" He asked. Naruto turned to him with a pout.

"Why do you think? You're my best friend asshole!" He replied, and nudged Sasuke again. Sasuke shook his head but lightly nudged Naruto back.

"Tch, Dobe." Sasuke replied softly but both boys knew that he missed Naruto too.

Back in the abandoned home, Itachi sat hunched where Sasuke had left him. He stared at the now black blood stain with cold eyes. His fingers shakily reached forward and lightly touched the stain. He tried to think back. He tried to remember him as he once was. Sasuke had not told him why he had done it. Why would he do this? Why would he kill Shisui? How could he? He looked to his hands, noting once again how frail they were. Too small to be taken seriously, even with his talent. These were the hands used to murder his clan? Tears slowly dripped down his cheeks and he did not bother to wipe them away. He thought back...he was going to be thirteen soon... he was part of ANBU. Danzō-San had just recently given him the order to spy on his family along with Shisui...that did not mean anything! From spying to a massacre? It did not add up.

He had just recently returned from his own mission with Kakashi-San...and they had gone for a walk... The Uchiha family had never approved of the nin's Sharingan. Shisui had been teasing Itachi about his crush on the Copy-nin.

'Out of all the people you could be batting your eyelashes at, it had to be the one guy that they whole family dislikes.'

'At least I keep the family on their toes.'

Kakashi had kissed him outside the village and Itachi had kissed back. Shisui had greeted him upon returning to the compound.

'Busy night?'

'Very. Long mission. Ran late.'

'Ahh.'

He killed them. He killed his family... Sasuke...he had turned Sasuke into this...why? Itachi stood shakily, bile rising in his throat. He forced it down. He slowly backed away from the stain and wiped at his eyes as he groped for the wall. His finger's clutched the cold wall and he let out a ragged breath that sounded more like a sob. The boy turned to walk out the door when instead he nearly bumped into Sasuke who had entered the home silently, catching Itachi off guard. Itachi lifted his face, putting on a mask of indifference as he studied at his sibling who stared back coldly.

"Why?" Itachi asked finally, voice calmer than he felt. Sasuke's narrowed eyes glowed with the Sharingan.

"To test your capabilities. After you killed Shisui, you wanted to see how powerful your eyes made you," Sasuke lazily informed him. "You killed them all before torturing me with the Mangekyō. You informed me that I was too pathetic to kill." Sasuke spoke as as he was discussing the weather and Itachi shook his head.

"No." He did not flinch as Sasuke's hand snapped forward and grasped Itachi's neck.

"You say that an awful lot." Sasuke scowled. Itachi stared at Sasuke with no expression.

"I'm sorry." He murmured and Sasuke glared at him in disgust.

"You're pathetic," He spat. He slowly pulled away from Itachi. "Very few know of your return and Tsunade wants to keep it that way. You will stay here. You will not leave this house. You will have minimal contact with anyone. Tsunade has already decided that Naruto, Kakashi and I will be the only ones you speak to. She wants to test a blood sample and will come here herself to take it. You will not cause trouble. You virtually do not exist. That masked idiot should be showing his face and bringing my team along. You will respect them. Tsunade does not want me killing you and I admit the thought of slitting your throat is strong..." Itachi turned away. "But I want you to remember. I want you to know why I'm doing this. Once you're back to your regular age. I will be here and you will die." He jerked Itachi's slim shoulder in emphasis and the boy nodded. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, otuo-"

The slap delivered was quick and Itachi's face jerked back with the force.

"You will not call me that. You will never call me that again." He stated and Itachi nodded. Sasuke stepped back, studying Itachi in disgust. "I'll return later today. Don't even try to escape. Kakashi has his spies watching the house at all times."

"I understand."

"Good."

Sasuke turned to leave, walking casually to the door when Itachi spoke up.

"I'm sorry." He managed and the teenager slowly turned to face the boy.

"Excuse me?" Sasuke's voice cut across the room and Itachi met his glare.

"I-I'm sorry Sasuke. For everything I did to you." Itachi managed, his heart broken over his little brother who had turned from a happy child to a cold young man. Something that should never have happened. He was surprised when he heard Sasuke let out a cold bark of laughter. Sasuke stared at Itachi with a twisted little smile on his face, eyes glowing sinisterly. This was not Itachi's Sasuke...this was not his brother...

"You're not sorry Itachi," Sasuke cooed. " But you will be." The door slammed behind Sasuke and Itachi fell to his knees.

A blond teenager sat perched on the ledge of a bridge, watching the water rush under him. Birds flew overhead and the boy watched happily as they soared. Naruto beamed when he spotted Sasuke approach slowly. He leaped to his feet and made his way over to his friend.

"Hiya, Teme." He greeted, a warm feeling in his chest when Sasuke smiled back slightly.

"Dobe." They fell in step together, Naruto knowing Sasuke was not ready to talk to anyone offered to walk with him outside the village. The pair ventured to the Kage's heads and sat down watching the village below. Naruto preened in the sunlight, smiling like a fox while Sasuke sat with his chin resting on his knees staring into the distance.

"Sasuke?"

"Hn?"

"How...how are you really? I mean...Itachi's suddenly a kid and you can't kill him. It's gotta be frustrating." Sasuke turned to Naruto who was still preening in the sunshine.

"I don't have any doubt of what he is and what he is capable of. It's...annoying. He looks like a kid...but he was that age when he killed them... what could have happened in the span of a few months from Itachi turning from that soft spoken genius back home to butchering everyone?" Sasuke mused and Naruto hummed in understanding.

"That's something you're going to have to ask him yourself, Teme."

"Ask him?" Sasuke sneered. "I can barely stand in the same room with him without hitting him." Naruto made an unhappy face at this but did not argue it. "Besides I can already guess it was the power rush he had. He thought he was unbeatable. Heh, we'll see about that."

"Don't do anything you're gonna regret Sasuke." Naruto warned. The raven shot the blonde a glare and stood slowly.

"I have no regrets. Missteps perhaps but no regrets." His voice came out clipped and Naruto sadly turned his gaze to the village as Sasuke walked away. Sasuke casually approached the district, ignoring the passing glances he was shot. Pakkun rested on the wall of the district and at Sasuke's approach, tilted his head. Sasuke nodded at him and continued on.

Upon entering the house, Sasuke noted the utter silence. He activated his Sharingan and stilled. There had been no mention of Itachi leaving the house. He had to be in here somewhere... he silently made his way down the hall and peered into Itachi's old room. He found the murderer huddled under his sheets, staring blankly at the wall. When he spotted Sasuke he sat up. The two glowered at each other for a moment.

"Should I start calling you Aniki now or will that get me struck as well?" Itachi asked sarcastically. Sasuke offered Itachi a cold glare.

"Anything you say has a high probability of you being struck." He retorted. Itachi glowered at his sibling, tugging the worn blankets around his shoulders.

"What happened after I...after I killed them?" Itachi asked and Sasuke shook his head.

"If you think I'm going to help you figure out everything, you're wrong." He replied and Itachi closed his eyes in bitter understanding. He stood slowly, lowering the blanket and looking around the dusty room. Everything he saw had a thick layer of dust. The walls seemed faded and cold. He glanced at his feet, noting that his room had no traces of blood. He had not chased his parents down it seemed. Perhaps he had caught them by surprise.

Sasuke motioned for Itachi to follow him and he did so quietly. Sasuke honestly did not know what he would do with Itachi. Sasuke himself had several meetings with the elders and Itachi was to attend these meetings eventually. At the knock on his door, Sasuke scowled and told Itachi to wait while he answered it. As soon as it opened he was pounced on.

"Sasuke-Kun!" Karin cooed happily, hanging from his neck. Behind her stood Suigestu and Juugo who waved sheepishly.

"The talking dog told us you'd be here." Suigestu stated. Karin released Sasuke and offered him a a smile.

"Itachi's partner got away and we were told you survived but Itachi was-right...behind you." Karin murmured as she stared over Sasuke's shoulder. Suigetsu and Juugo stared at the boy.

"He looks different." Suigetsu stated and Sasuke nodded.

"My jutsu reverted him back to a kid." He replied casually and Juugo blinked in surprise. Karin rushed past Sasuke and quickly approached Itachi.

"He's adorable!" She squealed. "Look at those eyelashes! He's like a doll!" She threw her arms around the boy who blinked in surprise at the non violent greeting. She pressed his face against his chest while he tried to politely pull away. Suigetsu snickered while Sasuke shot Karin an annoyed glare.

"Very adorable indeed. Especially drenched in the blood of his parents." He reminded her and she pulled away while Itachi blanched. Karin hesitated at Itachi's side, taking in his bruised complexion. Yet she nodded quietly.

"Of course. I'm sorry Sasuke-Kun."

"Lighten up Sasuke," Suigetsu replied. "He hardly looks like a threat now." Before Sasuke could reply Juugo turned to him.

"He was young when he killed his clan." He replied, no one noticing the flinch Itachi showed. Suigetsu shrugged and turned to Itachi.

"So I guess you won't remember him but your partner Kisame escaped. He was pretty worried for ya." Itachi blinked at Suigetsu's words and inclined his head thoughtfully. His partner...

"That's...kind of him." He finally managed, voice soft. Sasuke let out a disgusted noise and motioned for Itachi to leave, glaring daggers at the younger. The boy was quick to disappear and Sasuke turned to his team. Karin tore her gaze from where Itachi had vanished to meet Sasuke's scowl. Sasuke looked between the three of them, noticing that tobi was not among them.

"What happened to Tobi?" He questioned.

"Akatsuki business. He'll catch up." Suigetsu replied and Sasuke scowled walking away.

"Did he say anything?" He asked.

"He said...keep the kid alive. I suppose that was the kid." Suigetsu shrugged earning an eye roll from Karin. Sasuke nodded ushering them inside.

"No doubt you'll meet Naruto and everyone else later." He muttered as he led them to the kitchen.

"What's going to happen with the kid?" Suigetsu asked as he sat down.

"Tsunade wants him to be kept alive...the elders of course found out about him and want to meet him." Sasuke glanced at his arms. Karin reached to touch Sasuke's arm but thought better of it and pulled away.

"He remembers nothing?"

"No."

"So he's innocent?" Juugo asked and Sasuke shot a glare at him.

"He is anything but innocent." Sasuke snarled and stood. The team watched him in tense silence. He let out a long breath. "And I won't let him ever forget it."

Outside of Konaha standing above Hashirama Senju's head stood a masked man. Birds chirped and flew overhead but he paid them no mind. Instead his focus was lingering on the compound far in the corner. Madara smiled as he surveyed the village below.

"Oh Itachi-San. What would you think now?" He mused. "I'll be seeing you very soon."

Okay so I know that...SPOILER WARNING!

Tobi=Obito in the manga but I call that bullshit and there will be Madara in my story. So both Obito and Madara are working together. So Obito was the one who helped destroy the clan and Madara is the leader of the Akatsuki.

Oh! Thank you for all the reviews and support! Sasuke will slowly com around. You know how he is! This will involve M/M but mostly mentions of past for now. The rating will go up when it reaches than point.